Category Archives: Solat

Tasleem is turning the face to the right and then to the left and saying “Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah” and that will be the end of solah.

‘Amr bin Sa’d reported from his father

I used to see the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasalam when he pronounced Tasleem on his right and on his left until I could see the whiteness of the cheek. (Muslim)

Jabar bin Samurah narrated:

When we performed solah with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasalam, we said: “Assalamua ‘Alaikum wa rahmatullah and motioned our hands on both of our sides. Upon this the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alaihi wasalam said

‘Why do you motion with your hands as if they are tails of headstrong horses? It is enough for you to place your hands on your thighs and then make tasleem to your brother on the right side then on the left. (Muslim)

Narated By ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdullah RA : I saw ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar RA crossing his legs while sitting in the prayer and I, a mere youngster in those days, did the same. Ibn ‘Umar forbade me to do so, and said, “The proper way is to keep the right foot propped up and bend the left in the prayer.” I said questioningly, “But you are doing so (crossing the legs).” He said, “My feet cannot bear my weight.”

SAHIH BUKHARI (Volume 1 Book #12, Hadith #791)

Narrated by Muhammad bin ‘Amr bin ‘Ata’

Abu Humaid As-Saidi said, “I remember the prayer of Allah’s Apostle better than any one of you. … On sitting in the second Rak’a he sat on his left foot and propped up the right one; and in the last Rak’a he pushed his left foot forward and kept the other foot propped up and sat over the buttocks.”

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Zubayr said:

When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sat during the prayer, he would place his left foot between his thigh and calf, and tuck his right foot underneath him, and place his left hand on his left knee, and place his right hand on his right thigh, and point with his finger.

Also

Also, “Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam forbade a man who was sitting in prayer resting on his left hand, and said: Verily, that is the prayer of the Jews; in one wording, Do not sit like this, for indeed this is the way of sitting of those who are punished; in another hadeeth, It is the sitting posture of those who incurred (Allaah’s) anger.184

Lesson.

1. In tashahud awal, one must prop up the right foot, bend the left foot while sitting on the left foot.

2. In tashahud akhir, one must also prop their right foot, but push the left foot between his thigh and calf while placing the left upper thigh and buttocks on the floor. The left palm covers the left knee, leaning heavily on it. This is called Mutawarrikan.

3. Left hand must be placed on left knee while right hand on the right thigh with finger pointing forward.

4. Do not rest on the left hand

What to Say in Tashahud

First tashahud

For the last tashahud, one repeats what was read as the first tashahud and continue with the greetings of Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasalam and his family and also Prophet Ibrahim alaihi salam.

Fudalah b. ‘Ubaid reported that

the Prophet (s) heard a man supplicating during prayer. He did not glorify Allah, nor did he invoke blessings on the Prophet. The Prophet (s) said, “He has been hasty.” Then he called the man and said either to him, or to someone else, “When any one of you prays, he should begin by glorifying and praising his Lord and then he should invoke blessings on the Prophet, peace be upon him, and after that he should supplicate Allah for anything he wishes.”

In the tashahud this is what we are doing, in the first part we are glorifying Allah and in the second part we are sending salah to Prophet Muhammad allahu alaihi wasalam. This is to prepare you to make du’a before you give salam and ending the prayer.

Narrated Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila:

Ka’b bin Ujrah met me and said, “Shall I not give you a present I got from the Prophet?” ‘Abdur-Rahman said, “Yes, give it to me.” I said, “We asked Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! How should one (ask Allah to) send blessings on you, the members of the family, for Allah has taught us how to salute you (in the prayer)?’ He said:-

Say: O Allah! Send Your Mercy on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Mercy on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah! Send Your blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent your blessings on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious.’ ” (The arabic words above)

Raising the Index Finger During the Tashahud

We will be using the fatwa in ISLAMQA concerning the matter Insya Allah.

Lesson

1. To point the index finger. And also making a circle with the middle finger and the thimb

2. To make sure it is pointing towards qiblah

3. To move the finger as according to the du’a recited

4. To look at the finger all throughout

Every time you make du’aa’ you should point your finger, indicating the greatness of the One to Whom you are making du’aa’.

Other Highlights

In a two rakaah prayer (Fajr), the sitting of the final rakaah is Muftarishan i.e. as the sitting of tashahud awal.

Prophet salllahu alaihi wasalam said, “When you prostrate, prostrate firmly, then when you rise, sit on your left thigh” (Ahmad)

There are two ways as according to sunnah, to perform sitting between two prostrations

With regard to the way one should sit between sujoods, two ways of doing this have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

Keeping the right foot upright and sitting on the left foot, as was described in the saheeh hadeeth which describes how he sat between two sujoods: “He kept his right foot upright,” and “he pointed its toes towards the qiblah.” This is the most well known way, and it is the way he sat most of the time. This way of sitting is called MUFTARISHAN.

Keeping both feet upright and sitting on the heels, as was described in the saheeh hadeeth which describes how he sat between two sujoods: “Sometimes he would rest on both his heels and the balls on his feet.” This way of sitting is called IQ’A

Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam would be relaxed until his bone returned to its proper position when he sits in between the sajdahs. He ordered those who prayed badly to do likewise.

“He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would be relaxed until every bone returned to its (proper) position”(Abu Daawood & Baihaqi with a saheeh isnaa)d., and he ordered “the one who prayed badly” likewise, and said to him, The prayer of any of you is not complete until he does this.( Abu Daawood & Haakim , who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.)

Lengthening the Sitting between the two Sajdahs

Prophet Muhamamd sallalahu alaihi wasalam would lenghthen his sitting until it was almost as long as his sajdah (Bukhaari & Muslim)., and sometimes, he would remain in his position until one would think: He has forgotten.

A comment by Ibn Qayyim on this matter : Ibn al-Qayyim said, “This sunnah was abandoned by the people after the time of the Companions. But as for the one who abides by the Sunnah, and does not glance sideways towards whatever contradicts it, he is unworried by anything opposing this guidance.”

Ishaaq bin Raahawaih said, “If he wishes, he can say this three times, or he can say O Allaah! Forgive me …, because both of them have been reported from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) between the two sajdahs.”

Prophet Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, was before the Ka’bah shortly after the first Muslim migration to Habasha, when he was reciting surah an-Najm. Muslims and non-believers alike listened in awe. As he came to the last verses –

An Najm 53: 57-62

The Day of Resurrection draws near, (57) None besides Allâh can avert it, (or advance it, or delay it). (58) Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Qur’ân)? (59) And you laugh at it and weep not, (60) Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (61) So fall you down in prostration to Allâh, and worship Him (Alone). (62)

He (sallallahu alaihi wasalam) gracefully fell in prostration. The Muslims surrounding him followed in suit. Remarkably, it is what happened next that was the most amazing: the non-believers around them fell in prostration. Subhan Allah. They were so moved by the beautiful words of the Quran that they fell into sajdah irresistibly.

Sajdah. The most humble of positions the creation can be in before their Rabb. As we fall into the lowest of positions, where our face (the most honoured part of us) is lower than our bottom feet, twice in each rakaah, we give praise to the Most High, Allah.

Ibn Al-Qayyim described the sujood as the secret of prayer, the greatest pillar, and the seal of the rukoo’. He said all the other actions we did before it were just preludes.

Rabi’a bin Ka’b (ra), a companion of the Prophet ﷺ said:

“I was with Allah’s Messenger ﷺ one night and I brought him water and what he required. He said to me: ‘Ask (anything you like).’ I said: ‘I ask your company in Paradise.’ He said: ‘Anything else besides it?’ I said: ‘That is all (that I require).’ He said: ‘Then help me to achieve this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration.’” (Muslim)

Meaning make lots of solah (and thus lots of prostrations to Allah)

We should step back and reflect: what do we feel when we go into sujood? Some of us simply do it because it is a part of prayer; others because it is where we can make du`a’ (supplication). But how many of us feel the humility of the soul, as we put our faces on the ground, in glorification of God?

Allah describes the mark prostration leaves on the believers in the Quran:

Al Fath 48: 29

Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allâh, And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of prostration (during prayers).

Most people assume that the “mark” refers to the physical mark on one’s forehead that sometimes appears when one prostrates much. However, commenting on this verse, Mujahid stated that the “marks” refer to the marks of humility that come from khushoo’ (devotion), and this is just in the dunya (world). In the Hereafter, Al-Jalalayn described it as a light and radiance by which these people will be recognized.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam went to the (Baqi`) cemetery and said,

“May you be secured from punishment, O dwellers of abode of the believers! We, if Allah wills, will follow you. I wish we see my brothers.” The Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah! Are not we your brothers?” He said, “You are my Companions, but my brothers are those who have not come into the world yet.” They said; “O Messenger of Allah! How will you recognize those of your Ummah who are not born yet?” He said, “Say, if a man has white-footed horses with white foreheads among horses which are pure black, will he not recognize his own horses?” They said; “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah!” He said, “They (my followers) will come with bright faces and white limbs because of Wudu’; and I will arrive at the Haud (Al-Kauthar) ahead of them.” [Muslim]

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said:

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“When Allah intends mercy on whomever He wishes of the people of fire, He will command the angels to bring them forth whomever who used to worship Allah. And the angels will know them by the traces of the mark of sujood. Allah will forbid the Fire to consume the mark of sujood on the sons of Adam. So they will bring them forth and they will have been burned, then water that is called the water of life will be poured on them, and they will grow like seeds growing after a flood recedes.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Shaytan Hates Prostration

Prostration is also the most despised of positions to Iblis – it is the very position he refused to fall into at the command of Allah before Adam.

It was narrated by Abu Kuraib that the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, said

“when Satan sees the son of Adam in prostration, he says: ‘Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him; and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell.'” [Muslim, Book 1, Number 144]

Supplication Time

Prostration is also the greatest time to supplicate to Allah.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, said: “The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).” [Muslim, Book 4, Number 979]

Also, Madan bin Talha reported:

“I met Thauban, the freed slave of Allah’s Messenger, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, and asked him to tell me about an act for which, if I do it, Allah will admit me to Paradise, or I asked about the act which was loved most by Allah. He gave no reply. I again asked and he gave no reply. I asked him for the third time, and he said: I asked Allah’s Messenger, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, about that and he said: ‘Make frequent prostrations before Allah, for you will not make one prostration without raising you a degree because of it, and removing a sin from you, because of it.'” [Muslim, Book 4, Number 989]

The following are some dua’as Rasulullah, sallalahu alayhi wasalaam, would make while prostrating. Let’s try to memorise them

O Allah, to You I prostrate myself and in You I believe. To You I have submitted. My face is prostrated to the One who created it, fashioned it and give it hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of creators. (Muslim)

O Allah I seek protection in Your pleasure from Your anger, and I seek protection in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, I seek protection in You from You. I cannot count Your praises. You are as You praised Yourself. (Muslim)

O Allah forgive me all my sins, great and small, the first and the last, those that are apparent and those that are hidden. (Muslim)

And furthermore, let it be known that Allah’s creation all prostrate to Allah

Ar-Rad 13:15

“Whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to Allah (acknowledging subjection)- with good-will or in spite of themselves: so do their shadows in the morning and evenings.”

Said Ibn ‘Abbas, “The Prophet ordered us to prostrate on seven bodily parts and not to fold back the hair or clothing: the forehead (along with the nose), the hands, the knees and the feet.” (Bukhari)

Let us check
i. That our forehead is firm on the ground
ii. and so is your nose.
iii. both hands palm down on the ground
1v. the knees
v. be sure that our feet is close together and on the ground and not lifted above the ground.

All about arms when making sujud

Abdullah bin Malik bin Buhaina narrated
Whenever the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam performed solah (in prostration) he used to keep his hands open widely seperated (from his body) so much so that the whiteness of his armpits was visible. (Bukhari)

Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasalam said

Be moderate in prostrations, and let none of you stretch out his forearms (on the ground) like a dog. (Muslim)

Again we need to check our arms. Is it on the floor? Just like a dog sitting down on all fours. Prophet Muhammad salllahu alaihi wasalam caution us not to do our prayer like the animal namely bird that pecks too fast, camel sitting down and now a dog stretching his forearms.

The solah of a man whose nose does not rest on the ground as his forehead does – is not valid.”

Make sure the nose is on the ground

The feet

Aishah narrated: “One night I missed Allah’s Messenger sallalalhu alaihi wasalam from the bed, and when I sought him my hands touched the lower part of his feet while he was in the state of prostrations. His feet were raised (on his toes). (Muslim)

Invocation during Prostration

There are a few invocation that Prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam recited during his prostration. We are only used to the common one. I think it is time that we learn a new invocation Insya Allah.

This is among them

Characteristics of Prayer

Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 12 :: Hadith 760

Narrated ‘Aisha:

The Prophet used to say in his bowing and prostrations, “Subhanaka-Allahumma Rabbana wa-bihamdika Allahumma-ighfirli.’ (I honor Allah from all what (unsuitable things) is ascribed to Him. O Allah Our Lord! And all the praises are for You. O Allah! Forgive me).”

Closest to Allah during prostration

The Book of Prayers (Kitab Al-Salat)

Muslim :: Book 4 : Hadith 979

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).

We are in the state most near to Allah when we make sujood. We should try to make supplication to Allah at this time, make sujood properly as taught by prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam.